Insulating terminal for neon tubes



' June 14, 1938. R. c. BAKER 2,120,480

INSULATING TERMINAL FOP. NEON TUBES Filed Feb. 26, 1937 INVENTOR. Pay 6. fi/l/rzR Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSULATING TERMINAL FOB NEON TUBES Roy 0. Baker, Denver, Colo.

Application February 26, 1937, Serial No. 127,865

7 Claims. (Cl. 176-126) This invention relates to an insulating terminal through the hole in the sign face which is usually for neon sign tubes. provided for the porcelain insulating bushing.

One of the greatest sources of trouble in the The terminal comprises a central glass tube l5, present neon signs results from the break-down one extremity of which is welded to the extremity of the terminals of the tube at the point where of the neon tube II as indicated by the weld line 5 they pass through the metal sign face. Ordinar- II. The tube l5 contains the usual electrode, ily, the tubes are insulated from the sign face at such as illustrated at l6, and is sealed at its outthis point by the porcelain bushings. These er extremity as shown at I! about the conductors bushings become covered with carbon deposits which pp y the current to the u from the atmosphere and, especially when wet. The central is surrounded by 811 Outer will cause the tubes to discharge across or through glass tube of greater diameter- The Outer tube th bushings t h ign f t causing th i9 is welded to the central tube as shown at 20 at breakdown of t tubes t th point its forward extremity and is preferably left open The principal object f the present invention at its rearward extremity as illustrated. When is to provide an insulating terminal for neon tubes installed.- the Open a a d extremity is spaced which can not be Subject to shorting by moisa considerable distance from the metal sign face ture, atmospheric deposits, etc., and which will and is f course, p t d y t enclosing x avoid the serious service troubles at present en- 0f the Sighcountered with the tube terminals. It can be readily e that rain. Snow. soot,

other objects and advantages reside m the dust, etc., on the exterior of the sign cannot cretall construction of the invention, which is dean electnc Path to the conduct? or the signed for simplicity economy, and emciency inner electrode tube l5. Should moisture leak These become more apparent from the folthrough the Sign face would moisten the I lowing description. outer surface of the outer tube and spread the In the following detailed description of the inelectrical potential so that danger of h'conceh' vention reference is bad to the accompanying hated f down spark would be lessened. drawing which forms aha" hereof. Like humeh The molsture could not posslbly bridge the air als refer to like parts in all views of the drawing gap hetweeh the outer ihher tubesahd throughout the description It ls well known that air is one o! the best of In the drawing. insulating mediums and the cylinder of air which surrounds the electrode tube provides a highly Fig. 1 is a wow illustrating the sign face in secemcient insulating Shiehh a tube e passng therethmugh' The terminals are furnished to the sign manu- In gi the termmal has also been shown in facturers as the complete unit of Fig. 2, with the sec two tubes and electrode in place, ready for weld- Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the commg to the neon tube extremity The particular plete tube terminal as furnished, ready for weldtype of electrode as illustrated, is not important mg to the Sign tube' as the invention is equally valuable with any type In Fig. 1, the sign face is indicated at in and f e1ectmde m the neon tube at H. In the usual sign construc- While a Specific form of the improvement has 40 tion' the tubes H are held Spaced from the Sign been described and illustrated herein, it is desired face H! by means of the glass posts I! to whic t be understood that the same may be varied, the tubes are med by'means of tie wires or m within the scope of the appended claims, without any other desired manner. The posts fit into atdeparting from the spirit of the invention tachment clips l4 which are bolted or otherwise Having thus described the invention what is Secured to the Supporting Sign face claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent The invention contemplates forming a terminal or extremity on the tube II which will allow Ah insulating terminal for a neon tube the current to be conductedfrom the interior of prising; an inner l t d tub open at its one the Sign through the Sign face into the Sign extremity and sealed at its other extremity; and 50 box without liability of electrical break-down at an outer in ulating tube ld t i inner t t p adjacent the open extremity of the latter, the T s s accomplished y Welding a t a other extremity of said outer tube being open such as shown n F1:- 2 0 the x r y of th for its full diameter about the sealed extremity of 5 tube II and allowing this terminal to extend said inner tube.

2. An insulating terminal for a neon tube comprising: an inner electrode tube arranged at its forward extremity for welding to the extremity of said neon tube and sealed at its rearward extremity; an electrode within said inner tube; conductors extending from said electrode through the sealed extremity of said inner tube; and an outer tube of larger diameter than said inner tube and welded to the latter towards the forward extremity thereof so as to be maintained in spaced relation about said inner tube, said outer tube being open about the inner extremity of said inner tube. f

3. Means for insulating a neon tube at the point where the latter passes through a metal sign face comprising: a tubular extremity on said neon tube, said extremity extending through an opening in said sign faceian outer glass tube 01 larger diameter surrounding said extremity at the point where the latter passes through said sign face, said outer tube being permanently welded to said extremity exteriorly of said sign face and being open about said extremity interiorly of said sign face, said tubular extremity projecting through the open extremity of said outer tube.

4. In a luminescent sign of the type in which a tube terminal extends horizontally through an opening in a sign face, means for insulating said terminal at the point of passage through said sign face comprising: a horizontal glass sleeve of larger diameter than said tube terminal, said sleeve being welded about said tube terminal on the exterior side of said sign face to form a unitary construction for supporting said sleeve in horizontal coaxial relation about said tube terminal through said sign face.

5. In a luminescent sign of the type in which a tube terminal extends horizontally through an opening in a sign face, means for insulating said terminal at the point .of passage through said sign face comprising: a horizontal glass sleeve of larger diameter than said-tube terminal, said sleeve being welded about said tube terminal on the exterior side of said sign face to form a unitary construction for supporting said sleeve in horizontal coaxial relation about said tube terminal through said sign face, the inner extremity of said sleeve being entirely open and spaced about the inner extremity of said tube terminal.

6. In a luminescent sign of the type in which a tube terminal extends horizontally through an opening in a sign face, means for insulating said terminal at the point of passage through said sign face comprising: a horizontal glass sleeve of larger diameter than said tube terminal, said sleeve being welded entirely around said tube terminal on the exterior side of said sign face to form a permanent union therewith for supporting said sleeve in horizontal coaxial relation about said tube terminal through said sign face, the inner extremity of said sleeve being entirely open-said tube terminal projecting through the open extremity of said sleeve supported only by its welded forward extremity.

7. An insulating terminal for a neon tube comprising: an inner electrode tube open at its one extremity and sealed at its other extremity; and an outer insulating tube sealed to said inner tube adjacent the open extremity of the latter, the other extremity of said outer tube being open for its full diameter about the sealed extremity of said inner tube.

ROY C. BAKER. 

